US4335815A - Flexible package for storing and dispensing liquid or pasty matters - Google Patents

Flexible package for storing and dispensing liquid or pasty matters Download PDF

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Publication number
US4335815A
US4335815A US06/190,002 US19000280A US4335815A US 4335815 A US4335815 A US 4335815A US 19000280 A US19000280 A US 19000280A US 4335815 A US4335815 A US 4335815A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
skirt
nozzle
skirt portion
wall thickness
storing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US06/190,002
Inventor
Pierre Babiol
Philippe Gallais
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
LABORATORIES LABAZ
STE ANONYME NOUVELLE DE BOUCHONS PLASTIQUES SNBP Ste
Societe Nouvelle de Bouchons Plastiques SNBP
Original Assignee
Societe Nouvelle de Bouchons Plastiques SNBP
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Application filed by Societe Nouvelle de Bouchons Plastiques SNBP filed Critical Societe Nouvelle de Bouchons Plastiques SNBP
Assigned to STE ANONYME: SOCIETE NOUVELLE DE BOUCHONS PLASTIQUES, S.N.B.P. ,, LABORATORIES LABAZ reassignment STE ANONYME: SOCIETE NOUVELLE DE BOUCHONS PLASTIQUES, S.N.B.P. , ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: BABIOL, PIERRE, GALLAIS, PHILIPPE
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D35/00—Pliable tubular containers adapted to be permanently or temporarily deformed to expel contents, e.g. collapsible tubes for toothpaste or other plastic or semi-liquid material; Holders therefor
    • B65D35/02—Body construction
    • B65D35/04—Body construction made in one piece
    • B65D35/08—Body construction made in one piece from plastics material

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to improvements in flexible packages provided with a system for expelling their contents, of the type comprising a tube extended by an end piece or a cannula or nozzle.
  • a system for expelling their contents of the type comprising a tube extended by an end piece or a cannula or nozzle.
  • Such devices are generally used for injecting liquid or pasty products in the human body or in an animal's body.
  • Devices of the type in question are known, which are manufactured either in one piece, or in two parts, and which contain the exact dose of product necessary for one application.
  • the first type are generally made of plastisol, i.e. obtained in known manner by moulding around a heated mandrel which is immersed in a bath of this matter.
  • the second type consist in an extruded tube open at its two ends, one of which is welded at the base of an end piece or nozzle, whilst the other is closed by pinching once the active product has been placed in the tube.
  • All these devices include a junction between the tube and the nozzle which constitutes a shoulder offering a resistance to crushing which is greater than that of the rest of the tube.
  • the shoulder found in all the devices has a major drawback in that not all the matter contained in the tube can be entirely expelled.
  • the devices presently offered for sale therefore contain about 30% more active product than is necessary, since such a quantity remains at the joining portion between the tube and the nozzle.
  • the improvements forming the subject matter of the present invention aim at remedying these drawbacks and at enabling a device of the type in question to be produced which is of low cost price and avoids too great a loss of active product.
  • the package according to the invention is manufactured by injection under pressure of a plastics material, the joining portion between the tube and the nozzle being made in the form, known per se, of a neck constituted by two opposite curvatures which comprise means for completely deforming, irreversibly, under the action exerted thereon by the user to cause complete flattening thereof.
  • FIG. 1 is an exploded longitudinal view, on a large scale, of a device according to the invention in empty state.
  • FIG. 2 is an elevational view, in actual size, of a device according to the invention, when full.
  • FIG. 3 is a transverse section along III--III (FIG. 2).
  • FIG. 4 illustrates the manner of expelling the product contained in the device according to the invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3, but corresponding to the position of expulsion of the product.
  • FIG. 6 is a section thereof along VI--VI (FIG. 5).
  • FIG. 1 shows a device according to the invention which substantially comprises a flexible package 1 and a stopper 2.
  • the package 1 is made in one piece by moulding a plastic body such as polyethylene or EVA (ethylene-vinyl-acetate), under pressure. It comprises a tubular skirt 3 of constant section, which is extended by a nozzle 4. The skirt portion 3 and the nozzle portion 4 are connected by a joining neck portion 5 formed by two opposite curvatures, of the type met with in bottles.
  • the free end 4a of the nozzle is rounded so as not to injure the user when it is inserted in position; it comprises a central expulsion opening 4b with calibrated diameter.
  • the thickness of the nozzle is of the order of 0.7 mm, that of the neck decreasing in the direction of the skirt 3 so as to join it at a thickness of the order of 0.4 mm.
  • the radii of the neck are chosen so that said neck constitutes a protection against an excessive penetration into the user of the device; thus, in an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the radii of connection of the neck to the nozzle and to the skirt are respectively tapered from 12 mm to 25 mm.
  • the bottom of the skirt 3 is thinned down over 4 to 5 mm in height to constitute a zone 3a facilitating welding once this skirt has been flattened after the device has been filled with the active product (FIG. 2) in upside down position, i.e. with the nozzle oriented downwardly and stoppered.
  • the stopper 2 is made in the form of a cap 2a with a rounded end, whose inner diameter is determined so as to engage freely on the end of the nozzle.
  • the closed end of the stopper comprises an inner lug 2b whose diameter is determined so that this lug penetrates by force in the opening 4b of the nozzle 4.
  • the lug may comprise peripheral beads (not shown), adapted to increase the holding force of the stopper with respect to the said opening.
  • the device Once the device is filled with active product, its transverse section is as shown in FIG. 3, i.e. the bottom of its skirt constitutes a rectilinear edge 3b determined by the weld of zone 3a after it has been flattened. The presence of the edge 3b caused the deformation of the whole skirt 3 which then forms two symmetrical swells 3c, 3d just before the neck 5.
  • the package 1 advantageously has a volume corresponding to the exact dose of active product which must be used for an application. For example, this package 1 contains the exact dose of a micro-enema or the like, in the form of gel.
  • the polyethylene serving to make the package its density or voluminal weight is chosen to ensure a deformation of the swell 3c similar to blistering, i.e. at a certain moment, this swell passes through a position of unstable equilibrium and then remains in the concave position shown in FIG. 5 under the effect of the initial force exerted in the direction of arrow F. It will be noted in FIG. 6 that the swell 3c is also completely in abutment against the swell 3d in the transverse direction.
  • the plastics material used for making the device according to the invention comprises a sufficiently high molecular weight to avoid the formation of splits at the welded edge 3b.
  • nozzle 4 may be replaced by an end piece of any shape adapted to the type of flow of the product contained in the package.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Tubes (AREA)
  • Infusion, Injection, And Reservoir Apparatuses (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
  • Containers Having Bodies Formed In One Piece (AREA)
  • Catching Or Destruction (AREA)
  • Medical Preparation Storing Or Oral Administration Devices (AREA)
  • External Artificial Organs (AREA)

Abstract

The present invention relates to a flexible package for storing and dispensing liquid or pasty matters, of the type made by moulding a plastics material and comprising a tube extended by an endpiece, the joining portion of these two parts being such as to allow the complete expulsion of the product, wherein the joining portion is deformed irreversibly under the action exerted thereon by the user.

Description

The present invention relates to improvements in flexible packages provided with a system for expelling their contents, of the type comprising a tube extended by an end piece or a cannula or nozzle. Such devices are generally used for injecting liquid or pasty products in the human body or in an animal's body.
Devices of the type in question are known, which are manufactured either in one piece, or in two parts, and which contain the exact dose of product necessary for one application.
The first type are generally made of plastisol, i.e. obtained in known manner by moulding around a heated mandrel which is immersed in a bath of this matter.
The second type consist in an extruded tube open at its two ends, one of which is welded at the base of an end piece or nozzle, whilst the other is closed by pinching once the active product has been placed in the tube.
All these devices include a junction between the tube and the nozzle which constitutes a shoulder offering a resistance to crushing which is greater than that of the rest of the tube.
Concerning the devices made of two elements, they require two operations of manufacture, with the result that they are not economical. This mode of manufacture also involves an excess of material at the junction of the two elements, thus further increasing their cost price.
Moreover, another drawback of the two-piece devices is the frequent appearance of a leakage of product at the junction between the tube and the end piece, and all the manufacturing batches must therefore be checked.
The shoulder found in all the devices has a major drawback in that not all the matter contained in the tube can be entirely expelled. The devices presently offered for sale therefore contain about 30% more active product than is necessary, since such a quantity remains at the joining portion between the tube and the nozzle.
Finally, concerning the tubes made of plastisol, they are too flexible, this being detrimental to the correct rigidity of the nozzle.
The improvements forming the subject matter of the present invention aim at remedying these drawbacks and at enabling a device of the type in question to be produced which is of low cost price and avoids too great a loss of active product.
To this end, the package according to the invention is manufactured by injection under pressure of a plastics material, the joining portion between the tube and the nozzle being made in the form, known per se, of a neck constituted by two opposite curvatures which comprise means for completely deforming, irreversibly, under the action exerted thereon by the user to cause complete flattening thereof.
The invention will be more readily understood on reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is an exploded longitudinal view, on a large scale, of a device according to the invention in empty state.
FIG. 2 is an elevational view, in actual size, of a device according to the invention, when full.
FIG. 3 is a transverse section along III--III (FIG. 2).
FIG. 4 illustrates the manner of expelling the product contained in the device according to the invention.
FIG. 5 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3, but corresponding to the position of expulsion of the product.
FIG. 6 is a section thereof along VI--VI (FIG. 5).
Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a device according to the invention which substantially comprises a flexible package 1 and a stopper 2.
The package 1 is made in one piece by moulding a plastic body such as polyethylene or EVA (ethylene-vinyl-acetate), under pressure. It comprises a tubular skirt 3 of constant section, which is extended by a nozzle 4. The skirt portion 3 and the nozzle portion 4 are connected by a joining neck portion 5 formed by two opposite curvatures, of the type met with in bottles. The free end 4a of the nozzle is rounded so as not to injure the user when it is inserted in position; it comprises a central expulsion opening 4b with calibrated diameter. The thickness of the nozzle is of the order of 0.7 mm, that of the neck decreasing in the direction of the skirt 3 so as to join it at a thickness of the order of 0.4 mm. The radii of the neck are chosen so that said neck constitutes a protection against an excessive penetration into the user of the device; thus, in an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the radii of connection of the neck to the nozzle and to the skirt are respectively tapered from 12 mm to 25 mm. The bottom of the skirt 3 is thinned down over 4 to 5 mm in height to constitute a zone 3a facilitating welding once this skirt has been flattened after the device has been filled with the active product (FIG. 2) in upside down position, i.e. with the nozzle oriented downwardly and stoppered.
The stopper 2 is made in the form of a cap 2a with a rounded end, whose inner diameter is determined so as to engage freely on the end of the nozzle. The closed end of the stopper comprises an inner lug 2b whose diameter is determined so that this lug penetrates by force in the opening 4b of the nozzle 4. The lug may comprise peripheral beads (not shown), adapted to increase the holding force of the stopper with respect to the said opening.
Once the device is filled with active product, its transverse section is as shown in FIG. 3, i.e. the bottom of its skirt constitutes a rectilinear edge 3b determined by the weld of zone 3a after it has been flattened. The presence of the edge 3b caused the deformation of the whole skirt 3 which then forms two symmetrical swells 3c, 3d just before the neck 5. It will be noted that the package 1 advantageously has a volume corresponding to the exact dose of active product which must be used for an application. For example, this package 1 contains the exact dose of a micro-enema or the like, in the form of gel.
To expel the product, it suffices for the user to hold the package between the thumb and fore-finger as illustrated in FIG. 4, these two fingers abutting respectively on the swells mentioned above. By moving the thumb in the direction of the fore-finger, the corresponding swell 3c is deformed and easily applied against the inner face of the swell 3d (FIG. 5).
For the polyethylene serving to make the package, its density or voluminal weight is chosen to ensure a deformation of the swell 3c similar to blistering, i.e. at a certain moment, this swell passes through a position of unstable equilibrium and then remains in the concave position shown in FIG. 5 under the effect of the initial force exerted in the direction of arrow F. It will be noted in FIG. 6 that the swell 3c is also completely in abutment against the swell 3d in the transverse direction.
Thus, when the device according to the invention is used, all the product contained therein is expelled, waste being limited to the volume of product contained in the nozzle.
Finally, it will be noted that the plastics material used for making the device according to the invention comprises a sufficiently high molecular weight to avoid the formation of splits at the welded edge 3b.
The preceding description has, of course, been given solely by way of example and it in no way limits the domain of the invention, the replacement of the details of execution described, by any other equivalents, not departing from the scope thereof. In particular, the nozzle 4 may be replaced by an end piece of any shape adapted to the type of flow of the product contained in the package.

Claims (1)

What is claimed is:
1. A flexible moulded package for storing and dispensing liquid or pasty materials, the package comprising:
an elongated one-piece hollow body having a material containing skirt portion at one end, the skirt portion having a wall thickness selected to make the skirt portion flexible;
an elongated nozzle portion at the other end of the body, the nozzle portion being much smaller in diameter than the skirt portion and having an opening extending therethrough; the wall thickness of the nozzle portion being made greater than the wall thickness of the skirt to make it more rigid;
an intermediate joining portion interposed between the nozzle portion and the skirt portion and connecting them together along a curved walls of increasing diameter, the wall thickness of the intermediate joining portion tapering from the thickness of the nozzle wall portion to the thickness of the skirt wall portion; and
the skirt portion at its end opposite the joining portion being flattened and sealed along a rectilinear edge causing deformation of the skirt portion to form two opposed symetrical swells, such that when one swell is pressed toward the other it passes through a position of unstable equilibrium and lies concavely within the opposite swell in stable equilibrium.
US06/190,002 1979-09-26 1980-09-23 Flexible package for storing and dispensing liquid or pasty matters Expired - Lifetime US4335815A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR7924561A FR2465650A1 (en) 1979-09-26 1979-09-26 IMPROVEMENTS IN SOFT PACKAGING WITH A SYSTEM OF EXPULSION OF THEIR CONTENT
FR7924561 1979-09-26

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US4335815A true US4335815A (en) 1982-06-22

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US06/190,002 Expired - Lifetime US4335815A (en) 1979-09-26 1980-09-23 Flexible package for storing and dispensing liquid or pasty matters

Country Status (6)

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US (1) US4335815A (en)
EP (1) EP0026722B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE5471T1 (en)
DE (1) DE3065781D1 (en)
DK (1) DK156415C (en)
FR (1) FR2465650A1 (en)

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4988016A (en) * 1989-01-30 1991-01-29 James P. Hawkins Self-sealing container
US5511697A (en) * 1994-12-19 1996-04-30 The Procter & Gamble Company Reclosable pouch and method of construction
FR2778639A1 (en) * 1998-05-18 1999-11-19 Valois Sa Sample spray dispenser as a promotional aid
GB2351272A (en) * 1999-06-23 2000-12-27 Eu Pharma Ltd Oral medicine dispenser
US6742724B2 (en) * 2001-05-15 2004-06-01 L'oreal Device for dispensing a product, particularly product samples, as a spray
WO2006043288A1 (en) * 2004-10-20 2006-04-27 Bormioli Rocco & Figlio S.P.A. A tube made in a single piece by injection of a plastic material
US20120024905A1 (en) * 2010-07-31 2012-02-02 Roland Kneer Single-use applicator
US20140197202A1 (en) * 2010-12-30 2014-07-17 Nestec S.A. Pressure operated dispensing device
US20190117917A1 (en) * 2016-05-25 2019-04-25 Claudia Mattern Two-part plastic blank set

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
SE508438C2 (en) * 1995-03-31 1998-10-05 Norden Pac Dev Ab packaging Containers

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2663461A (en) * 1949-06-30 1953-12-22 Frederick M Turnbull Container for pharmaceuticals and the like
US2808926A (en) * 1954-11-10 1957-10-08 Blair M Drake Single dose vial assembly of animal semen
US3221939A (en) * 1962-01-08 1965-12-07 Barnes Hind International Inc Disposable dispensers
US3353714A (en) * 1965-11-10 1967-11-21 Rexall Drug Chemical Collapsible flexible plastic container tube
US3635376A (en) * 1970-06-05 1972-01-18 Hellstrom Harold R Quick-open flexible package

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1020783A (en) * 1950-06-24 1953-02-10 Envelope for the packaging and use of pasty or liquid products, in particular suppositories
GB990473A (en) * 1960-09-23 1965-04-28 Merck & Co Inc Squeezable containers
AU414085B2 (en) * 1967-01-31 1971-06-14 M. S. F. R. C. S. F. RA. C. S. and IAN HOWARD MUDIE ROEGER NOEL JAMES BONNIN An improved dispensing container
GB1275903A (en) * 1968-08-27 1972-06-01 Smith & Nephew Dispenser
FR2105590A5 (en) * 1970-09-10 1972-04-28 Strazdins Atis
US3993223A (en) * 1974-07-25 1976-11-23 American Home Products Corporation Dispensing container

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2663461A (en) * 1949-06-30 1953-12-22 Frederick M Turnbull Container for pharmaceuticals and the like
US2808926A (en) * 1954-11-10 1957-10-08 Blair M Drake Single dose vial assembly of animal semen
US3221939A (en) * 1962-01-08 1965-12-07 Barnes Hind International Inc Disposable dispensers
US3353714A (en) * 1965-11-10 1967-11-21 Rexall Drug Chemical Collapsible flexible plastic container tube
US3635376A (en) * 1970-06-05 1972-01-18 Hellstrom Harold R Quick-open flexible package

Cited By (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4988016A (en) * 1989-01-30 1991-01-29 James P. Hawkins Self-sealing container
US5511697A (en) * 1994-12-19 1996-04-30 The Procter & Gamble Company Reclosable pouch and method of construction
US6460781B1 (en) 1998-05-18 2002-10-08 Valois, S.A. Sampling-type spraying device
WO1999059881A1 (en) * 1998-05-18 1999-11-25 Valois S.A. Sampling-type spraying device
FR2778639A1 (en) * 1998-05-18 1999-11-19 Valois Sa Sample spray dispenser as a promotional aid
US6663019B2 (en) 1998-05-18 2003-12-16 Valois S.A. Sampling-type spraying device
GB2351272A (en) * 1999-06-23 2000-12-27 Eu Pharma Ltd Oral medicine dispenser
GB2351272B (en) * 1999-06-23 2001-05-02 Eu Pharma Ltd Oral medicine dispenser
US6742724B2 (en) * 2001-05-15 2004-06-01 L'oreal Device for dispensing a product, particularly product samples, as a spray
WO2006043288A1 (en) * 2004-10-20 2006-04-27 Bormioli Rocco & Figlio S.P.A. A tube made in a single piece by injection of a plastic material
US20070108227A1 (en) * 2004-10-20 2007-05-17 Bormioli Rocco & Figlio S.P.A. Tube made in a single piece by injection of a plastic material
US20120024905A1 (en) * 2010-07-31 2012-02-02 Roland Kneer Single-use applicator
US8690013B2 (en) * 2010-07-31 2014-04-08 Gaplast Gmbh Single-use applicator
US20140197202A1 (en) * 2010-12-30 2014-07-17 Nestec S.A. Pressure operated dispensing device
US20190117917A1 (en) * 2016-05-25 2019-04-25 Claudia Mattern Two-part plastic blank set

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE3065781D1 (en) 1984-01-05
ATE5471T1 (en) 1983-12-15
DK156415C (en) 1990-01-22
EP0026722A1 (en) 1981-04-08
EP0026722B1 (en) 1983-11-30
FR2465650A1 (en) 1981-03-27
FR2465650B1 (en) 1983-06-10
DK156415B (en) 1989-08-21
DK404880A (en) 1981-03-27

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AS Assignment

Owner name: STE ANONYME: SOCIETE NOUVELLE DE BOUCHONS PLASTIQU

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNORS:BABIOL, PIERRE;GALLAIS, PHILIPPE;REEL/FRAME:003966/0864

Effective date: 19801208

Owner name: LABORATORIES LABAZ, 1 RUE DE LA VIERGE-33003 AMBAR

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNORS:BABIOL, PIERRE;GALLAIS, PHILIPPE;REEL/FRAME:003966/0864

Effective date: 19801208

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